Electric trolley construction



Aug. 23, 1938. E. M. GLASGOW ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb; 24,, 1936 s shetsfsneet 1 INVENTOR ERNEST M. GLASGOW BY HIS ATTORNEYS "8 1 E. M. GLASGOW 2,128,135

ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ERNEST M. GLASGO BY HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 23, 1938. E. GLASGOW 2,128,135

ELECTRIC TROLLJE Y CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1936' v 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 W m R 2 W W6 M T S E N R E Auwaa BY HIS ATTORNEYS urllillll l. I u 1 Aug. 23,1938. 5. M. GLASGOW ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ffid Feb.- 24, 1936 W O mm 2 m T ..s E N R E BY HIS ATTORNEY-S Aug. 23, 1938. E. M. GLASGOW 2,128,135

ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 on I,

INVENTOR ERNEST M. GLASGQW BY HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 23, 1938. E. M. GLASGOW I 2,128,135,

ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet s i I I 4 I I f i n 1 INVENTOR ERNEST M. GLASGOW BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 2 3; 1 938. I h 1 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Ernest M. Glasgow,- Towaco, N. J., assignor to Feedrail Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 24, 1936, Serial No. 65,462

20 Claims. (01. 247-3) This invention relates to electric trolley con- Figure 11 is a section along line llll of structions of the type comprising bus bars and Figure 9; a carriage having contacts therefor, and more Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the particularly to three phase installations of this conduit section polarization structure; character for distributing current to portable Figure 13 is an end view of the box for closing electric power tools. the dead end of the conduit;

This application is in part a continuation of Figure 14 is a, side elevation of the same; my copending application Serial No. 53-,075 filed Figure 15 is a perspective detail of the ar- December 5th, 1935, which in turn is in part a rangement for polarizing the carriage and its continuation of myapplicatlon copending there-. insulating base; 10 with, Serial No. 12,530 filed March 22nd, 1935, Figure 16is an elevation of the conduit internow Patent No. 2,026,884, Jan. 7, 1936. mediate feed box structure; 4

One of the main objects of the present inven- Figure 17 is a plan of the same, with a coupling 7 tion is to provide a polarized electric trolley conbox applied to one side thereof;

struction; to prevent improper or reversed assem- Figure 18, is a section taken along the line 15 bly thereof which would distribute current in re- 'l8-l8 of Figure 16; a versed or improper phase relation. Figure 19 is a section taken along the line Further objects are to provide improved joint l9--l9 of Figure 17; a and end constructions for the conduit, and to Figure 20 is a side elevation of an end feed 20 adapt the same for low level installations. box; 2Q Another object is to provide an improved joint Figure 21 is an end elevation of the same; construction for the conduit to;supply current to- Figure 22 is a section taken along the line the bus bars thereof at a point intermediate the "-22 of Figure 21;

' ends of the conduit, and to facilitate the con- Figure 23 is a section taken along the line nection of power leads thereto. 2323 of Figure 24; 25 .pther objects and features of novelty will Figure 24 is a modification of Figure 21; be; apparent as the following description pro- Figure 25 is an end elevation of an under carce,'eds; reference being had to the accompanying 'riage for a low level conduit shown in section; drawings, in which Figure 26 is a plan of the under carriage, part- 30 Figurelisaside elevation of the electric trolley ly in section through the latch along the line 30 construction according to the preferred embodi- 2526 of Figure 25; and 1 ment of the present invention; Figure 27 is an enlarged detail perspective view Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical of the tongues on thecoupling plate which intersection through the construction shown in Figlock with the holes or slots in the section ends.

ir The electric trolley construction according to 35 Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal section my copending applications hereinbefore re-'-- taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 2; showing ferred to comprises an insulating member having the carriage in plan; bus bars secured thereto and complementary con- Figure 4 isa vertical transverse section through duit members mounted at each side thereof,

40 the intermediate feed box; taken alongthe line forming a conduit inclosing the bas bars, but 40 65 Figure 9.

4-4 of Figure 1; spaced therefrom. 'The conduit also contains Figure 5 is a detail of the 'bus bar splice clip; a' carriage which moves longitudinally therein, Figure 6 is a detail section taken along line and is provided with contactsengaging the bus 6-4 of Figure 2; 4 bars. The conduit is manufactured in sections Figure '7 is a vertical transverse section through or units, which are adapted to be joined in end 4 the conduit Joint and hanger, taken along the to end relation to form a continuou'sconduit of a line .l-lof Figure 1; length to suit the installation. Each section of a Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8; the conduit is provided as shown in Figure 7 with of Figure 1, showing the carriage door'polarizing an insulating member 2, the opposite sides and device and the structure for preventing, closing the edge of which have undercut grooves 3, I and 50 the door when the carriage'is reversed; 5. These grooves receive bus bars 6, l and 8 re- Figure 9 is a side elevation of the intermediate spectively, each comprising 'a strip of copper power feed--bus barJoint structure; having ts S d edges ,bent ack. p itself and Figure 10 is a section along line Il -Ill of brought together, and then bothare flared out q wardly forming diverging flanges ll. These flanges have a spring action which facilitates their longitudinal insertion and adjustment in the undercut grooves 3, 4 and 5. This also permits the bus bars to be adjusted longitudinally to take up variations in manufacture and assembly.

The margin of the insulating member 2 is secured between complementary conduit members i5 and I8, which have side walls parallel to the insulating member 2 and terminating in inwardly directed flanges I9. The inner edges of the flanges H) are spaced apart thus leaving the trolley slot 20. The flanges 19 adjacent the slot 20 are provided with reinforcing grooves or channels 2|.

Although the bus bars 6, 'I and 8 are prefer ably continuous from one end of the conduit unit to the other, the insulating member 2 is not necessarily continuous. At least two spaced insulating members are provided, between which conduit member flanges i8 are brought together and secured for example by spot welding. At the portions where the insulating member margin extends therebetween, the flanges l8 are bolted together therethrough.

The trolley carriage which operates in the conduit is described and claimed in my application Serial No. 53,075 hereinbefore mentioned. This carriage is provided with a pair of trolley contacts 26 and 2'! which respectively engage the bus bars 6 and l, and a trolley contact 28 which engages the bus bar 8. These contacts are journalled in arms 30 pivoted on an insulating plate 3| mounted on the carriage, which has supporting rollers 29 engaging the flanges l8, and guide rollers 25 engaging the sides of the slot 28. The sheet metal frame of the carriage has loops 32 joining floor flanges 33'from which side flanges 34 extend vertically. The loops 32 pivotally receive eyes 35 which suspend a. control box which contains a switch, circuit breaker and/or fuses, and a receptacle for a plug to connect the power tool to be used. 7

To insure polarization of the successive conduit sections, and to prevent reversed assembly thereof, bars 38 are permanently secured in the grooves 2| at one end only of each conduit section as shown in Figure 12 by welding or riveting. The projecting ends of these bars 36 enter the mating ends of the grooves of the next section,

and are, tapped to receive screws through these grooves from the outside.

For joining the sections of the conduit, joint structure is provided as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 'l. The bus bars are first spliced after which the section walls are coupled. The Bakelite bus bar support 2 terminates short of the ends of the conduit side members l5 and 18, but the ends of the bus bars project therefrom substantially to the ends of the side members. to meet when adjacent conduit sections are brought together. The divergent spring retaining flanges l4 of the bus bars are cut back from the ends, and channel clips 88 of the bus bar material receive the remaining portions of the bus bar ends, as shown in Figure 5, and are tapped to receive screws passing through the bus bar ends. One end of each clip 88 is secured to its bus bar end at the same end of the section where bars 88 occur, to

prevent reversed assembly. For access to the clips 88 notches 88 are provided in each end of each of the side members I! and I8.

For housing the bus bar joint, and coupling and supporting the conduit sections, complemental-y coupling members 48 are provided, which move: and conform to the shape of the side members I5 and IS. ,The lower edges of these joint members have turned up tongues 4|, the side edges of which are tapered or beveled at Mt (Fig. 27). These tongues enter slots 42 at the bottom of the side members l5 and I8 at the outer edges of the flanges l8 near each end of the section. Bolts 43 secure the coupling members 48 together atthe top and also form a support for the conduit. -It should be noted that these beveled tongues serve to wedge the sections toward each other, and thus insure abutting re-' lationship thereof, and continuity of the longitudinal elements.

For supplying power at a point intermediate the ends of the conduit, the bus bar joint shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6 is employed. A block of insulation 44 has side grooves and a flat base to receive the splice clips" for the respective bus bars. The clip 38 for the bus bar 1 has an aperture through which passes a lug. of a nut 45. This lug is in the form of a hollow rivet which is peened over or spread to secure the same to the clip. The nut 45 is inserted or embedded in the insulation, and receives the lower end of a terminal bolt 48 which extends vertically down thereto through the insulation, the threads being locked by a set screw. An identical terminal 41 for the bus bar 6 is provided at the other end of the block 44. The clip 38 for the bus bar 8 has an aperture which directly receives the reduced end of a terminal bolt 48 therefor extending down completely through the insulation. This reduced end is hollow riveted to secure the clip thereto.

A feed box is provided for housing this bus bar power supply joint. The coupling members 40 at this intermediate feed joint are cut down through the top curve. Part of the curve therebetween is cut away and the remainder flattened out as at 49, to receive the feed box, and. the tops of the abutting section ends are cut away somewhat lower at 50. The feed box is formed by a plate of channel shape, the flanges 52 of which are notched, and the channel ends 54 folded down in inverted U-shape. Each leg 54 of this U- shape is cut to the contour of the conduit top, to receive the conduit members l5 and I8. The flanges 52 of these end legs 54 extend down for attachment to the flattened portions 48 of'the coupling members 40. The box is completed by removable side plates 55 having oflset lower edues 56 which hook inside the edges 48 and are secured to the flanges 52.

The top of the feed box receives the end of a pipe or other supply conduit 51 through which power leads 58 are respectively secured to the tops of the terminal bolts 48, "and 48 which serve as bindingposts.

One of the conduit sections is provided with a door through which the trolley carriage may be inserted or applied. As shown in Figure-8 the lower portion 60 of each side member I5 and I8 is hinged at 6|. This movable portion is somewhat longer than the troiley carriage, as shown in Figure 1. Opposed latch members 82 are mounted inthe grooves 2| of the hinged portion 68, and are urged apart by springs I33.

The carriage is polarized in several particulars. The side flange 34 has a notch 84 cut therein'to receive a projection 85 on the insulating base, as

-shown in Figure 15. The notch and projection are both oflset from the center of length of-the same, as shown in Figure 2. This arrangement prevents reversed assembly of the insulating base and the carriage frame.

extending above the other sid flange, which is adapted to engage an angle clip 61 secured to the inner side of the opposite wall I5 when the carriage is inserted in reversed position as shown in Figure 8. The angle clip-is mounted at each side of the door opening as shown in Figure 1, and a similar angle clip 61 aligned therewith is secured to the inner side of one door 88. This clip prevents the door being closed on the carriage when it is in reversed position. I

. While certain of the sections may notbe pro vided with doors, itv is desirable to carry the polarization through such sections from door section to door section, and hence such sections each have the polarization tongues or bars 36.

Furthermore, the provision of these tongues on to prevent endwlse insertion of the carriage in,

reversed position.

A modified form of intermediate feed bus bar I joint is shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11. A pair of short sections of the insulating block 2 are fitted with short sections of bus bars 6, 1 and 8 bridging thesame. The attaching flanges M of these bus bar sections are cut backfrom the ends. Opposite sides of the ends of the blocks are notched at 98 to receive terminal straps 69 and I8 respectively brazed or sweated to the inner sides of the bus bars 8 and I. A third strap Ii extends down between the blocks'and is secured to the attaching flanges of the lower bus bar 8, by brazing or sweating. An insulating sleeve 12 is passed 'overthe strap to insulate it from the bridging portions of the bars 6 and I. The upper cut back, are offset as shown at 14, to receive the corresponding ends of the next section or a splice section. Screws pass through the overlapped ends into tapped holes in the offset ends,

without requiring any coupling means separate from the bus bars.

The dead end of the conduit is closed by the dead end box shown in Figures 13 and 14. This box has an upper inner flange 15 cut to the contour of the conduit top, and a lower inner flange 18 which serves as a bumper for the'trolley care riage, The end box is secured to the conduit by screws passing through projecting tongues 11 to the coupling member 48 and the side flanges 18 of the end box.

A modified intermediate feed box is shown in Figures 1.6, 17, 18 and 19. In this form the ends of the adjacent sections are not in abutting relationship-but instead are spaced apart. The joint members 48 are cut away in thecenter at the top, but the ends remain to join and support the sections as in the plain joint.

This box comprises end flanges 19 which are 1 bent down and cut to conform to the conduit section, and side flanges 80 which form a bridge continuing the contour of the bottoms of the conduit sections. Thus the box forms track sections Holes 8| are cut in the side flanges 80 and cove plates 82 are fitted thereover.

v It should be noted that with both forms of feed box shown, the conduit sections can be joined.

and supported by the coupling members 40 before the box is inserted.

These views also show an arrangement for leading in power when lack of head room prevents access to the top. A coupling box 89 having'inwardly flanged openings at each end is interposed between the cover plate and the side opening of the feed box. This coupling box has knockouts 84 in each side, for selective reception of the power lead conduit 51. A cover 85 is provided for the usual conduit opening.

An end feed box is shown in Figures 20, 21 and 22. This comprises a channel shape having notched flanges 52 to permit folding into U- shape. The bridge of the U has a central opening 86, both ends of which conform to the top of the conduit, thus rendering the box reversible. Projecting tongues 11 of the coupling members 48' are secured to the flanges 52 of the bridge. A flat U-shaped plate 81 is fitted over the other end and secured to the flanges of the legs of the U-shaped channel member.

In the modified form of Figures 23 and'24 the lower edge is flush with the bottom of the conduit, and hence to provide a bumper for the carriage, a tongue 88 is left projecting into the central opening.

The trolley construction, including the conduit and the carriage, while adapted for overhead installation, is equally adapted for low level installation for example near the floor of the factory. When the level desired is too low to permit the control box to hang down, an under carriage, is provided as shown in Figures 25 and 26. Channel clips 89 are riveted to the under carriage and receive the loops 32, suitable pins 98 being passed therethrough. The inner upturned flange 9| carries journals for a pair of rollers 92,

which engage the underside of the flanges or track portions I9. A steadying roller 93 is journaled in a bracket 94 riveted to the under carriage, in position" to engage the underside of the other or opposite flange IS.

The ends of the loops 32 may be notched to receive the upstanding flanges of the clips 89, thus forming stops which prevent any pivoting about the pin 90. With this arrangement, the roller 29 above the roller 92 acts as a steadying roller, while the other roller 29 is the supporting roller.

The control box 95 is pivoted to the other upstanding flange 96 of the under carriage, by a hinge 91, and is held in the position shown, by a latch 98. This latchis slidably received to the control box, and has headed ,pins 99 entering the enlarged ends of keyhole shaped slots I08 in the flange 96.

This hinge and latch construction permits the control box 95 to be swung down, in removing the carriage from, or replacing the same in, the conduit in order to clear the door 60 shown in Figure 8, which of course is swung up to its widest open position for this purpose.

The coupling members 48, which have the tongues ll entering the slots 42 at the outer edge of the flanges 19, are of particular advantage with this low level construction, because the lower side of the flange I9 is left clear of obstruction to the rollers 92.

The invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes such embodiments as fall within the. scope of the following claims.

I claim:-

gated conduit section having a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom, said conduit having a lateral opening for insertion of a carriage having contacts respectively adapted to engage said bus bars, a closure for said opening, and cooperating means on said closure and carriage for preventing closing of said closure when said carriage is inserted in reversed position.

2.,In an electric trolley construction, an elongated conduit section having a plurality of longitudinallyparallel bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom, a carriage mounted in said conduit for movement therelong, an insulating base mounted on said carriage and having contacts adapted to respectively engage said bus bars, and cooperating means on said carriage and base for preventing assembly of said insulating base on said carriage in reversed relation.

3. In an electric trolley construction, a pair of elongated conduit sections each having a longitudinal slot and a track portion on each side thereof and a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars mounted in said section and insulated therefrom, said pair of sections being arranged in end to end relation with the slots and track portions and bus bars thereof in alignment, means for respectively electrically connecting the aligned ends of said bus bars, and a section coupling overlapping adjacent aligned ends of said sections and secured thereto, said section coupling being secured to the side walls of said section ends outside of said track portions, thereby being clear of the underside of said track portions.

4. In an electric trolley construction, an elongated conduit section having a plurality of iongitudinally parallel bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom and a longitudinal slot and track portions parallel thereto, said section having at one end a hanger comprising plates joined above the conduit section and extending down over the sides thereof and bent inward thereunder, and anend closure for said section secured in position adjacent to said hanger and forming a hollow structure defining a chamber in communication with the interior of said conduit, said hollow structure terminating said track portions and said end closure having flange means terminating said slot within the section and having an end wall closing said interior beyond the' ends of the bus bars of said section, thereby forming a terminal section for installation at the end of the conduit, said busbar ends being provided with means for connecting power lead in wires thereto, and said hollow structure being provided with an opening through which said :power lead in wires may enter for connection to said connecting means.

5. In an electric trolley construction, an elongated conduit section having a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom, a box-like structure joined to the end of said conduit section with their in-' teriors in communication, said box-like struc-' ture comprising a plate channel shaped in transverse section with the whole bent into a channel in longitudinal section, whereby its inturned flanges substantially define parallel planes, and cover plates overlapping and' secured to said flanges for closing the' remaining openings of said box-like structure. 8. In an electric trolley construction. a condui trans-es.

section having a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom and provided with a longitudinal slot and track portions parallel thereto, a carriage movable along said track portions and having contacts respectively engaging said bus bars and a portion depending through said slot, 8. control box at one side of said conduit and extending above the level of the bottom thereof, and an under carriage secured to the depending portion of said carriage for supporting said control box and having a roller engaging the underside of the track portion remote from said control box.

7. In an electric trolley construction, a conduit section having a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom and provided with a longitudinal slot and track portions parallel thereto, a carriage movable along said track portions and having contacts respectively engaging said bus bars, a control box connected to said carriage by insulated conductors through said slot, means for supporting said control box at one side of said conduit, said conduit section having a door comprising a hinged portion of one of said tracks adapted to swing open to admit said carriage, and said supporting means comprising a hinge constructed and arranged to permit said control box to swing clear of said door.

8. In an electric trolley construction, a current supply conduit section comprising a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars and means for supporting said bus bars insulated from said section and from each other with the exposed faces of two facing in opposite directions and the exposed face of another facing in a different direction, said section having inturned horizontal flanges forming track portions below said bus bars and spaced apart to form a slot, one end of said section being adapted to be butted against an adjacent end of a similar section and provided with means for preventing the adjacent section from being assembled therewith in reversed relation, coupling means extending over the outside of the said abutting ends for supporting and joining the same, means within said coupling means for joining the bus bar ends and constructed and arranged to provide smooth continuity of the exposed faces thereof from one section to the other, the conduit joint being constructed and arranged to provide smooth continuity of said track portions and said slot from one section to the other, whereby current may be continuously taken oif through said slot from a carriage supported on and, moving along said track portions and having contacts engaging said bus bars passing within the conduit from one section to the other.

9. In an electric trolley construction, a current I supply conduit section comprising a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars and means for 4 supporting said bus bars insulated from said section and from each other, said section havdoors having tongues passing through said holes and curled over pivot means at said lower edges parallel thereto, the entire wall of said casing being symmetrical about a vertical plane through said slot, means for supporting a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus'bars inside said casing and'insulated therefrom, one end of said casing being adapted to be aligned and assembledwith the adjacent end of a similar casing where-v by the bus bars thereof maybe joined for distributing' current therethrough, polarizing means tn said casing end for preventing the adjacent casing from being assembled therewith in reversed relation, and a-coupling plate overlapping the outside of bothof said aligned casing ends inmetal tometal contact therewith, said polarizing means and said coupling plate both preserv ing the symmetry ofthe adjacent-ends of the sheet material.

11. In an electric trolley construction, an elongated conduit section comprisinga sheet metal casing having vertical side walls with inturned bottom flanges spaced apart to leave a longitudinal slot therebetween, said casing having longitudinally extending bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom for supplying current to a carriage having contacts respectively urged into engagement with said busbars and having supporting rollers for rolling alongsaid flanges, one of said bus bars having its exposed contact surface facing downwardly toward said slot,'and the remaining bus bars having contact surfaces perpendicular thereto, said casing being constructed and arranged for the insertion of said carriage thereinto through openings in said flanges, and for the movement of said carriage along on said flanges only when said carriage is not in reversed position, the ends of said casing being symmetrical about a vertical plane through said slot and provided with means for preventing said section from being assembled with the adjacent section in reversed position.

12. In an electric trolley construction, an elongated casing of sheet material having in the bottom thereof a longitudinal slot and track portions parallel thereto, means for supporting a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars inside said casing and insulated therefrom, one end of said casing being adapted to be aligned and assembled with the adjacent end of a similar section whereby the bus bars thereof may be joined for distributing current therethrough, and

polarizing means secured to said end between said slot and the adjacent track portion.

13. In an electric trolley construction, a pair .of elongated conduit sections each having a plurality of longitudinally parallelbus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom, and each provided with a longitudinal slot and track porsulating structure insertable between said section ends as a unit for joining the aligned bus bar ends, and means passing through said conduit joining means for supplying current to the joining means for each of said bus bars carried by said common insulating structure.

14. In an electrictrolley construction, an elongated conduit section having a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom and a longitudinal slot and track portions parallelthereto, said section having at one end a hollow structure defining a chamber in communication with the interior of said conduit, said hollow structure having flange means terminating said slot and said track portions and having an end Wall transverse to said conduit and closing. said interior beyond the ends of the bus bars of said conduit, thereby forming a terminal section for installation at the ends of said conduit, said flange means being spaced inward from said end wall and serving for bumper purposes in stopping a trolley in said conduit.

.15. In an electric trolley construction, a current supply section comprising a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars and means for supporting said bus bars insulated from each other, said section having inturned horizontal flanges forming track portions below said bus bars and spaced apart to 'form a slot, said track portions having an access opening out therethrough to permit insertion of a carriage havh ing contacts for engaging said bus bars and supporting. wheels or rollers for riding on said track portions, doors forming replacement track portions for said access opening, and latching means on said doors engaging and cooperating with the remaining parts of said track portions for retaining said doors in position and to support said trolley thereon from said track portions,

said means being releasable to permit opening of said doors, said latching means transmitting part of the weight of the carriage on said doors to said track portions.

16. In an electric trolley construction, an elongated conduit section having a longitudinal slot and a track portion on each side thereof and a plurality of longitudinally parallel bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom, an end box-secured at the end of said section and defining a chamber in communication with the interior 'of said conduit, said box having an end wall closing said interior beyond the ends of said bus bars, and means for terminating said slot, terminal posts respectively secured to said bus bars and projecting away from their contact surfaces and into said chamber defined bythe end box, said end box having an opening in one of its faces, and power lead in conductors passing through said opening from theoutside and respectively secured to said terminal posts.

17. In an electric trolley construction, a pair of aligned slotted-track forming conduit sections containing insulated bus bars joined end to end, a section coupling overlapping adjacent ends of said sections and having inturned portions passing under said section ends and supporting the same thereon, said inturned portions and the section parts engaged thereby having rigid tongues on the one registering with'slots in the other, said tongues being caused to enter said slots by gravity action during assembly, and screw means passing through the upper part of said section coupling for clamping said section ends therein and retaining said tongues in said slots.

18. In an electric trolley construction, a pairof aligned slotted track forming conduit sections containing insulated bus bars joined end to end, a

a hanger comprising side plates overlapping adjacent ends of said sections, portions of said side plates being cut away and said hanger having a top opening, and a hanger cover comprising a,

flat top cover plate overlying the top opening of said hanger, and side cover plate portions cooperating therewith and overlying the cut away portions of the hanger side plates, said side cover plate portions being substantially flat and thereby i'ree of lateral projections.

19. In an electric trolley construction, an elongated sheet metal casing having longitudinally parallel bus bars mounted therein and insulated therefrom, said casing having inturned horizontal flanges forming track portions below said bus bars and spaced apart to form a slot, opposite portions of said flanges being cut away to form a carriage entrance opening extending across the bottom of said casing, doors replacing the cut away portions and directly pivoted to the lower margins of the side walls which were formed by the cut whereby said doors may be swung downwardly to admit the carriage, and cooperating means on said doors and the lower portions of said casing for retaining said doors in replacement position and accessible from the bottom or side of said casing for releasing said doors.

20. In an electric trolley construction, a pair of aligned slotted track forming conduit sections containing insulated bus bars, one bus bar end of each section being oflset away from its contact surface to receive the other bus bar end, and screws passing through longitudinally spaced holes in one of said ends into registering tapped holes in the other for joining the same without requiring any bus bar coupling means separate from the busbars, and a hanger comprising coupling plates having imperforate sides overlapping adjacent ends of said sections and having inturned portions passing under said section ends and supporting, the same thereon, said inturned portions and the section parts engaged thereby having rigid tongues on the one registering with slots on the other, said coupling plates conforming to the cross-section of said section ends and said imperfora'te sides forming the sole covering for the bus bar joints, the tops of said coupling plates being connected to hold said imperforate sides flat against the sides of the conduit ends.

ERNEST M. GLASGOW. 

